Cop death reignites police safety concerns
A TAXI driver is expected to appear in court soon on charges of culpable homicide, reckless and negligent driving, attempted murder and attempting to flee the scene of an accident following the death of a metro police officer who was struck and killed by a taxi in eManzimtoti on Friday.
Inspector John Deysel, 59, had been trying to stop the taxi when it hit him outside the Galleria Mall. The 22-yearold taxi driver was arrested.
The SA Municipal Workers’ Union said it would meet with its shop stewards to discuss safety matters following Deysel’s death.
Provincial secretary Jaycee Ncanana said the issue of officers’ safety during roadblocks had been raised previously and the union was given an assurance that its members were safe.
“We will meet with shop stewards to discuss a way forward when it comes to safety – maybe looking at refresher courses for members,” he said.
Ncanana said their meeting would include looking at where improvements could be made in ensuring the safety of officers.
“We have to sit down with the employer and make suggestions on how our members can be safer out there,” Ncanana said.
Deysel’s wife of nearly 21 years, Rina, said he had been with the metro police service for a total of 34 years, 23 of which he had served with the Durban metro police.
She said their little girl, Johane, who would turn two on February 26, was his world and they would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary in April.
“He was the proudest policeman and was passionate about his job. We battled for so long to have a child and when this little body arrived, she became everything to him.
In the evenings, when he was working the night shift, I would phone him and he would speak to her,” she said.
Rina said she felt like she was in a Friday night.
“Seeing them at my house, coming like that, is every police wife’s nightmare.
It’s like I’m in a dream and still need to wake up. All I am trying to do is think about my husband and the memories we shared so I can feel close to him,” she said.
Rina said she would collect all the newspaper articles written about her husband, who would have celebrated his 60th birthday on February 19, for their daughter to read when she is older.
Metro police spokesperson Superintendent Glen Ndlovu advised people to refrain from making negative comments on social media platforms, based on video footage of the incident on Facebook yesterday.
Ndlovu said Deysel flashed his torch a few times for the taxi to stop, but the driver did not slow down.
“Instead, in the video he veered to the left and tried to squeeze between the officer and two vehicles standing off to his left,” Ndlovu said.